True-crime podcaster Payne Lindsey, creator of Up and Vanished, was all set to fly to Nome for his latest investigation but bailed at the last minute. He didn’t tell anyone, yet somehow rumors started swirling on social media that he was there. Payne joins us to break it down, plus we’re talking Verizon outages, a couple blocked from suing Uber, and leaked MrBeast “founder mode” documents.
Smart ways to make more money and find new customers
Small business owners must build trust, set trends and share their customers’ values. Connecting with customers is one of the most important ways to make money.
Success starts close to home. Before connecting with customers, you must build strong bonds with your teammates. Tap or click here for five leadership secrets every small business owner should know.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep reading. Kim started her brand from the ground up and learned many tough lessons. Here is some of her best advice for any small business owner.
1. Choose a solid and memorable brand name
Pick a name that rolls off the tongue. You also want to pick one that inspires good feelings in whoever is talking about your business. There’s a lot of psychology at play.
A 2006 study scanned people’s brains to see how they responded to name brands. Researchers made a shocking discovery. Brand names trigger more of an emotional response than other words.
A more recent study found that favorite brands activate two brain regions. These aren’t just any brain regions: They’re the parts that are important for developing close interpersonal relationships. Scientific American shares all the details.
You can use this knowledge to your advantage
Here’s the main takeaway. When we talk about brands, we process the name through the more emotional parts of our brains.
As a small business owner, you can influence your customers’ emotions. You can use that power for good — and profit. Sadly, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for a good brand name. Here’s our advice:
- Do some soul-searching.
- Invest in research to find a good name.
- Be original without being esoteric.
If you’re stuck, flip through the dictionary. You may not find the business name you stick with, but it will get the gears turning.
This is the same generation that ate Tide Pods: Gen Z’s latest social media trend is snapping photos of their TSA security trays while we all wait in line behind them. They neatly arrange their sunglasses, jewelry, bags and shoes before sending them through the X-ray, captioning it with gems like, “Am I overpacking for the one-day late-summer getaway?” Oof.
Let’s grow our minds with this brainteaser going viral on social media: “7 men have 7 wives. Each man and each wife have 7 children. What’s the total number of people?”
47% of Gen Z
Wishes TikTok didn’t exist. Half think the same about X (yeah, I still think of it as Twitter). The average time per day spent on social media? Four hours. You can’t convince me it’s anything other than addiction.
Students shocked by smartphone bans
Could this be the key to better learning? Students think so! With more focus, less anxiety, and better social interactions, many are seeing real benefits from the change.
Meta says 'From the river to the sea' isn't hate speech
The company’s oversight board just ruled that the phrase used by Palestinian protestors isn’t hate speech. But what does it mean? This will make you rethink how social media defines hate.
Scams on social media
Why are people willingly sending money to scammers they’ve never met? There’s shocking new trend where social media traps victims into losing big bucks.
The FTC bans fake online reviews
Using bots to boost social media followers and influence is off the table, too. Disney+ adds Hulu shows, sparking parental outrage. Plus, Waymo horror stories, Facebook rental scams, and tips for your next mechanic visit. And Earl from Chicago needs wedding help for his daughter.
🗺️ It’s a joke, OK? Stop sharing the mock electoral maps flooding social media as if they’re facts. The trend is to take a blank map, color it mostly blue or red, and slap a clever line about how either Democrats or Republicans could win the Electoral College. Want in? Here’s a generator to make your own.
Has your SSN been leaked? Here's how to check
Hackers leaked 2.9 billion records, with personal details like Social Security numbers, addresses, and more. Find out if you’ve been impacted.
Lock your credit files immediately
Another huge data breach — 2.9 billion records exposed, including Social Security numbers. Here are the quick steps you need to take right now to protect yourself.
Every American's Social Security number could be up for grabs
Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
💩 Shame for fame: A Brazilian model is going viral for an antiaging “hack” — spreading her own poop on her face. I’m not linking the video, because trust me — you don’t want to see it. This crap (sorry) is so popular on social, experts are stepping up to warn against the dangers of exposing yourself to bacteria and parasites. Just … don’t.
Meghan & Harry save the children
The couple is back with a new plan to protect kids from social media — but is it just an attention grab? Here’s the scoop.
Tesla's unsafe autopilot
Elon Musk’s Tesla has reported over 1,200 autopilot crashes in the past three years. Also, look out for foreign nations spreading misinformation on social media, fake reviews targeting restaurants, and the rise of restaurant robots.
Scammers take to the skies
When you rant about that awful layover on social media, you’re painting a target on your back. Scammers are lurking, ready to cash in on your bad flight experience.
1 in 4 kids
Faces identity theft before they turn 18. And age verification might make the problem much worse. Think about it: To get access to social media, your kid uploads their name, face, and a document or two. One breach and a criminal has it all.
That Social Security email isn't a scam
If you got an email from the Social Security Administration this week, you might be tempted to toss it in the trash. But here’s why you shouldn’t and what you should do next.